174 STATE OF SOCIETY. [1839 



She rarely fails, also, in maintaining the dignity of her queenly 

 state, though once in a while, as in the difficulty with France 

 in 1842-3, obliged to yield to the force of circumstances, or 

 compelled to humor the caprices of Pomarc-taui, who, at the 

 dictation of the foreign residents, occasionally interferes in 

 questions of state, and, for the most part, successfully. 



The police regulations, especially on the island of Tahiti, 

 are excellent, though some might, term them severe. At 

 eight o'clock in the evening a gun is fired, followed by an- 

 other at an interval of fifteen minutes, after which all strag- 

 glers found in the streets are carried to the guard-house by 

 the patrol. The members of the police, with few exceptions, 

 are faithful and efficient, and do not leave much cause to 

 regret the abolition of the ancient custom of taboo* 



(5.) In enterprise, industry, and intelligence, this people 

 are, doubtless, far behind the inhabitants of the Sandwich 

 Islands ; yet, one who has read the accounts of the old navi- 

 gators, can hardly fail to be struck with the vast change 

 effected by the missionaries. The natives of this group, 

 though indolent by nature, were originally wild and turbu- 

 lent, when aroused, and fierce and vindictive. Long and 

 bloody wars desolated the islands ; parental affection, love, 

 and tenderness, were almost entirely unknown ; woman was 

 sunk in the lowest state of degradation ; polygamy was 

 common ; a species of marriage was in vogue, but not es- 

 teemed sacred ; female virtue was prized as a thing of little 

 worth ; depravity and licentiousness abounded ; sexual indul- 

 gences and infanticide were encouraged by a singular insti- 

 tution called the Arco'i;\ all the finer feelings of humanity 

 were nearly obliterated, and 



"hardened mothers in the grave could lay 

 Their living habes with no compunctious tear." 



* This custom, formerly prevailing throughout Polynesia, hut now nearly done 

 away, may be regarded as something like a police regulation in a rude and bar- 

 barous state of society, ami. no douht was highly beneficial, in curbing the pas- 

 sions, and controlling the lawlessness, of the savages, even though it may some- 

 times have been the instrument of wrong and oppression. 



f The baneful influence of this society once extended over the whole Pacific. 



